5 Things You Should Know About the SLSO’s 2024 Concert in Forest Park
By Eric Dundon
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra will continue its much-beloved tradition of opening its season with a free community concert on Forest Park’s Art Hill on September 19, 2024. Since its inaugural Forest Park concert more than 50 years ago, the SLSO has performed for thousands of people each year as a community celebration of music and the kick-off of the SLSO’s season.
Performed each year in memory of Mary Ann Lee, a devoted supporter of the orchestra, the concert is a celebration of music and community, led by Music Director Stéphane Denève. Here are five things to know about the concert.
The Concert
The concert begins at 7:00pm, Thursday, September 19. Located on Art Hill, the orchestra is positioned at the bottom of the hill, in front of the Emerson Grand Basin, facing the Saint Louis Art Museum at the top of the hill. Music Director Stéphane Denève conducts. A portion of the program serves as preview for the orchestra’s 145th season. Selections include favorites from symphonies by Ludwig van Beethoven, W.A. Mozart, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The orchestra brings a local flair to the concert with performances of St. Louis-native Scott Joplin’s The Cascades—written in honor of the 1904 World’s Fair—and a tribute to St. Louis’ turn hosting the 1904 Olympics with John Williams’ Olympic Fanfare and Theme. The orchestra will be joined by guest vocalist, St. Louis native Kennedy Holmes, a finalist on NBC’s The Voice, for performances of “The Trolley Song” from Meet Me in St. Louis—also a nod to the World’s Fair. A close collaborator of the inimitable film composer John Williams, Denève programmed selections of Williams’ score from E.T. the Extraterrestrial, which the orchestra will play in its entirety September 21-22 at Stifel Theatre. The festivities end with a show-stopping fireworks display following John Philip Sousa’s patriotic anthem The Stars and Stripes Forever.
Things To Do
Designed to engage families with children, the SLSO’s Education and Community Partnerships team will host a family fun zone at the top of Art Hill from 6:00 to 7:00pm, engaging children through musical activities, including music creation and conducting members of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra. SLSO staff and volunteers will hand out glowsticks for children to join Denève in conducting the orchestra.
Food and Drink
Vendors will begin serving food and drink at the top of Art Hill beginning at 5:00pm in the Saint Louis Art Museum East Lot. Arrive early and bring lawn chairs or blankets to enjoy locally made treats. Local vendors at the concert will include Angie Burger, Cajun Seduction, Delicious Delights, Doggie Mac’s Food Truck, Falafel Saha Food Truck, Fire and Ice Cream Truck, Go Gyro Go, Grace Meat + Three, Holy Crepe, Honey Bee Tea, Picture Perfect Panini, Ron Ron’s Black Fried Rice, Scoops of Joy, STL BarKeep, Takozz Real Mexican Food, The Popcorn Bar, and Urban Chestnut Brewing Company.
Getting There and Getting Around
The SLSO’s concert is one of the most popular events of the year at Forest Park. Attendees are encouraged to arrive at least an hour early to secure parking. Parking is available on the park’s streets, in the free lots of the Visitor Center and Muny/Festival lots, and in the paid lots of the Saint Louis Zoo and Saint Louis Art Museum garage. Parking will not be available at the top of Art Hill. The SLSO will provide shuttle service to Art Hill from areas within Forest Park. The nearest Metrolink station is Forest Park-DeBaliviere just north of the Missouri History Museum.
Weather Updates, and FAQs
Audiences are encouraged to sign up for email updates at slso.org/forestpark to receive news about the concerts and any day-of weather updates or cancellation notices, as well as answers to frequently asked questions.
Eric Dundon is the SLSO’s Public Relations Director.
